Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-24
EIGHT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
An Old Mans Riches Unclaimed
Jim" Blythe on the Lookout.


Jim" Blythe on the Lookout.
NEW YORK, Jan. 19.-"Jim" Blythe is
sheep drover. he was born and brought
up in this city, went to the war in 1861
with the Ninth New York Militia and in
his early days ran to fires with the boys
of old engine 10.
At present he lives with his family over
a saloon at the corner of Eleventh avenue
and FOrteth street. A few days ago he
received Information which leads him to
believe that he and mis- children are joint
heirs to an estate worth $S,000,000.
There died, about four years ago, in San
Francisco, an old man named Thomas Fl.
Blythe. He had lived there since 1849,
having come by way of Cape Horn from
England on the ship Antelope. Instead
of becoming miner on his arrival, he set
up as a trader in groceries, dry goods and
liquors, and he made money faster than
the miners who patronized him.
He invested 1t in real estate, which has
since become very valuable. Blythe was
an eccentric old man, very shrewd and
close in his business. No one knew aught
of his antecedents, except that he was an
Englishman.
His only known extravaganza was his
presentation of hundreds of dollars worth
Of flowers yearly to actresses. He met
his death by drowning while bathing, and
a thorough search of his papers failed to
discover any will.
There were deeds, however, showing
his ownership to large tracts of land, in
cluding blocks Of houses in San Fran
cisco, $4,000 acres of valuable coal land in
san Diego county, Cal, a nine-tenths in-
terest in the lands of the Mexican Agri-
cultural, Industrial and Colonizing Com
pany, situated in the valley OF the Colora-
do river in Lower California, comprising
| 400, 600 acres, the Rancho da Los Angeles,
containing $4,000 acres, in Lower Cal
ifornia, three-fourths interest in an
other ranch of 100000 acres in Lower
California, 100 acres of land in Curry
county, Ore, and silver mine in Majore
county, Ari.
A young woman OF San Francisco at
| tending old Blytbe's funeral, dressed IN
| deep mourning. She claimed that the Old
! man bad married her and that she was
! entitled TO his property. Another alleged
| widow came over from England, and
about the same time a 12-year-old girl
appeared before the Surrogate, alleged
! by counsel that her name was Florence
! Blythe and that she was daughter OF the
| late Thomas.
The claims Of all three to the property
were in turn denied. Heirs were adver-
tised tor and over 100 We're found residing
IN various patle Oh the united states,
Canada and England.
4 Jim" Blythe, the sheep drover, is one
of these claimants. He says his grand
father was minister of the Church Of
England, and his father, who came to this
country in 1881, was u hauler OF stone.
IAN uncle OF mine" he saws, had
son who was very wild sort OF young
man. The young fellow fell in love with
one of the servant girls and married her
on the SLY. When the old gentleman
heard of it ne disowned his son, and sent
! him away from his house"
The young woman gave birth TO a male
child, and after that all trace of the little
! family was lost. Thomas was the name
/ OF the young man who married the ser
want, and l believe it was his son who
came from England in the ship Antelope
in 1919. II my lawyer can prove this pn
| be rich man."